Marijuana seized in two separate drug busts

Authorities announced Tuesday the seizure of large quantities of marijuana in two separate drug busts.

The first seizure happened about 2 p.m. Monday at the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 8 in Pine Valley. Agents with drug-sniffing dogs discovered 16 packages of marijuana that weighed a total of 56 pounds, authorities said. The drugs were found inside the tires of a Ford F-150 truck.

The driver and passenger, both 21 years old and U.S. citizens, were arrested.

About two hours later, agents in Temecula seized roughly 140 pounds of marijuana at the border patrol checkpoint on Interstate 15.

A Mazda 626 was stopped and drug-sniffing dogs alerted agents there may be drugs in the vehicle. Agents said they found 58 bundles of marijuana inside the rear bumper and inside a modified secret compartment that was built into the floor of the vehicle.

The driver, a 26-year-old Mexican native traveling legally in California, was arrested and turned over to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, officials said.